US9509030B2 - Power management system for a microbial fuel cell and microbial electrolysis cell coupled system - Google Patents

Power management system for a microbial fuel cell and microbial electrolysis cell coupled system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US9509030B2
US9509030B2 US13/847,004 US201313847004A US9509030B2 US 9509030 B2 US9509030 B2 US 9509030B2 US 201313847004 A US201313847004 A US 201313847004A US 9509030 B2 US9509030 B2 US 9509030B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
mec
mfc
power
power management
management unit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active, expires
Application number
US13/847,004
Other versions
US20160372931A9 (en
US20140285007A1 (en
Inventor
Ajay Krishnan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US13/847,004 priority Critical patent/US9509030B2/en
Publication of US20140285007A1 publication Critical patent/US20140285007A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US9509030B2 publication Critical patent/US9509030B2/en
Publication of US20160372931A9 publication Critical patent/US20160372931A9/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M16/00—Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
    • H01M16/003—Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J4/00—Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04858—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04925—Power, energy, capacity or load
    • H01M8/04932—Power, energy, capacity or load of the individual fuel cell
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B1/00—Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
    • C25B1/01—Products
    • C25B1/02—Hydrogen or oxygen
    • C25B1/04—Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B15/00—Operating or servicing cells
    • C25B15/02—Process control or regulation
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B5/00—Electrogenerative processes, i.e. processes for producing compounds in which electricity is generated simultaneously
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04298—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
    • H01M8/04694—Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems characterised by variables to be controlled
    • H01M8/04858—Electric variables
    • H01M8/04925—Power, energy, capacity or load
    • H01M8/04947—Power, energy, capacity or load of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/16—Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M2250/00—Fuel cells for particular applications; Specific features of fuel cell system
    • H01M2250/10—Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02B90/10—Applications of fuel cells in buildings
    • Y02B90/14—
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/36—Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
    • Y02E60/366—
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells
    • Y02E60/527—
    • Y02E60/566—
    • Y10T307/352—

Definitions

  • PMU Power Management Unit
  • PMUs in general is used to control power applied to an electrical load depending on load conditions and/or input power applied to the system.
  • PMUs are implemented using solid-state device such as BJTs or FETs and capacitors and/or inductors.
  • PMUs are switching regulators capable of boosting or bucking a DC input voltage applied to them.
  • Microbial Fuel Cells are used to generate electricity while treating waste-water.
  • Microbial Electrolysis cells are used to produce hydrogen gas from waste-water by applying external power to it.
  • MFC and MEC coupled systems are low-voltage systems (around 1V) and low current in the order of few hundred mA.
  • the PMUs require electronic switches and other associated circuitry capable of operating under such low voltages and producing very little voltage drop across them.
  • Carbon Nanotubes and nanowires are used to improve charge transfer between anaerobic bacteria and anode surface of a microbial fuel cell.
  • Inverters together with PMUs and/or DC combiners are used to apply power to the electrical grid or local factory such as waste-water treatment plant either from an array of solar panels, stack of solid-oxide fuel cells using natural gas or other fuels, and farm of wind turbines.
  • PMU has been designed that controls the power applied to an electrical load consisting of a hydrogen producing fuel cell and an electrical system that supplies power to the consumer such as waste-water treatment plant simultaneously.
  • the PMU allows a means to control the production of hydrogen or electricity depending on demand conditions.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a typical electrical circuit connection between MFC-MEC systems to control hydrogen production.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an electrical circuit connection of MFC-MEC coupled system using electronic switches and controller to control hydrogen production and supply power to an external load simultaneously.
  • FIG. 3 is an electrical circuit diagram using a switched capacitor implementation of Power Management Unit.
  • FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of the PMU using PWM controller and electronic switches.
  • FIG. 5 details the working of switched capacitor based PMU over time.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram setup for an electrical circuit simulation in TINATM.
  • FIG. 7 is the equation that governs the voltage applied to the MEC.
  • FIG. 8 is the equation that governs the output voltage of PMU that is available to power an electrical system.
  • FIG. 9 is a timing diagram that corresponds to more power being made available to an external electrical system while less power made available for hydrogen production in MEC.
  • FIG. 10 is a timing diagram that corresponds to more power made available for increased hydrogen production while less power made available to the electrical system.
  • FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the MFC-MEC fuel cell system with built-in PMU shown as a basic building block.
  • FIG. 12 shows an array of the MFC-MEC fuel cell system configuration to use in a typical waste-water treatment plant.
  • the equivalent circuit of MFC is represented by 10 , and that of MEC by 11 .
  • the potentiometer 12 is used to control the voltage and hence power applied to the MEC in a typical laboratory setting to control the hydrogen production.
  • the drawback of this scheme is that the power is dissipated as heat in 12 reducing the efficiency of the system.
  • FIG. 2 shows the block diagram of the PMU design using electronic switch circuits 13 and 14 to obtain high efficiencies.
  • the switch circuits 13 and 14 are controlled by 15 , a PWM controller with a feedback from output in order to maintain the set output voltage.
  • the switch circuits can be implemented using a switching regulator. This switching regulator can be of either capacitor or inductor based switching circuits.
  • FIG. 3 shows a typical implementation of PMU using switched-capacitor based circuit topology. This is a desired topology due to low currents and voltages of the MFC-MEC coupled system.
  • Switches S 1 -S 5 can be a MOSFETs (or ultra-low voltage semiconducting switching device) with low channel resistance to minimize power loss.
  • PWM controller can be implemented using an off-the-shelf IC.
  • FIG. 4 shows the timing diagram of the PWM controller.
  • the width of the timing pulse to S 1 with respect to the overall timing period T, the desired voltage is supplied to the cathode chamber of MFC.
  • the width of the timing pulses, T 2 and T 3 determine the output voltage of the regulator for external use.
  • T 1 , T 2 and T 3 are all required to be non-overlapping timing pulses.
  • FIG. 5 details the working of the switched capacitor voltage regulator over a complete cycle of operation.
  • the typical frequency of operation of the PWM controller is of the order of 100 KHz.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the switched-capacitor based voltage regulator in a circuit simulator called TINATM.
  • VG 1 -VG 3 represent the PWM controller operating at about 100 KHz repetition rate.
  • S 1 -S 5 represent ideal switches with some resistance to reflect the channel resistance of MOSFETs. It is also set to have a low switching threshold voltage ( ⁇ 0.5V).
  • the MFC and MEC is represented by a battery element with a reasonable internal resistance (5 ohms) typical of a large volume cell.
  • Capacitors C 1 and C 2 are a typical low leakage capacitors such as tantalum.
  • R load mimics the typical load expected of a single MFC-MEC coupled system.
  • FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are the equations governing the voltage applied to the MEC and external load respectively based on timing periods, external load resistance, switch resistance and capacitor values.
  • FIG. 9 shows the timing waveform of the simulation setup corresponding to minimum hydrogen production or more power to external load.
  • the voltage delivered to the external load is about 1.3 volts.
  • the amount of voltage applied to cathode chamber of MEC is about 0.2 volts.
  • FIG. 10 shows the timing waveform of the simulation setup corresponding to the maximum hydrogen production or less power to the external load.
  • the voltage delivered to the external load is about 0.2 volts.
  • the amount of voltage applied to cathode chamber is about 1.0 volt.
  • FIG. 11 shows the basic building block of the MFC-MEC coupled system with a built-in PMU.
  • the physical size of the building block is predominantly determined by the energy densities required at a waste-water treatment facility.
  • FIG. 12 shows the inter-connection of the basic building block to form a larger electrical system.
  • the building blocks are connected in series to increase the terminal voltage of the combined system while in parallel to increase the current production.
  • Several of the systems are connected in parallel once a give terminal voltage has been setup in a DC combiner box before feeding into an Inverter.
  • the inverter is then connected to either an electrical grid or used locally to power the plant or residential or commercial facility.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Microbiology (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)

Abstract

Various embodiments of the invention include a power management unit (PMU) to simultaneously control the production of hydrogen and electricity for external use in an MFC-MEC coupled system. In one embodiment, the PMU includes low voltage electronic switches using MOSFETs, and a PWM controller. The PWM controller creates timing waveform necessary to operate the switches. In other embodiments, the switches can be replaced by any switching regulator capable of operating at low operating voltage and currents that yield high efficiency. Such a system can be used in a waste-water treatment facility.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This non-provisional U.S. Utility Patent application is a conversion application and claims priority to the previously filed U.S. Provisional application No. 61/612,981, entitled “Power Management System for a Microbial Fuel Cell and Microbial Electrolysis Cell Coupled System”, filed Mar. 20, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Power Management Unit (PMU), in general is used to control power applied to an electrical load depending on load conditions and/or input power applied to the system. PMUs are implemented using solid-state device such as BJTs or FETs and capacitors and/or inductors. PMUs are switching regulators capable of boosting or bucking a DC input voltage applied to them.
Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) are used to generate electricity while treating waste-water. Microbial Electrolysis cells (MEC) are used to produce hydrogen gas from waste-water by applying external power to it.
PMUs have been used to control the output power based on the power generating capabilities of the microbial fuel cell. MFC and MEC coupled systems are low-voltage systems (around 1V) and low current in the order of few hundred mA. Hence, the PMUs require electronic switches and other associated circuitry capable of operating under such low voltages and producing very little voltage drop across them.
Carbon Nanotubes and nanowires are used to improve charge transfer between anaerobic bacteria and anode surface of a microbial fuel cell.
Inverters together with PMUs and/or DC combiners are used to apply power to the electrical grid or local factory such as waste-water treatment plant either from an array of solar panels, stack of solid-oxide fuel cells using natural gas or other fuels, and farm of wind turbines.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In this invention, PMU has been designed that controls the power applied to an electrical load consisting of a hydrogen producing fuel cell and an electrical system that supplies power to the consumer such as waste-water treatment plant simultaneously.
The PMU allows a means to control the production of hydrogen or electricity depending on demand conditions.
Traditionally, hydrogen production in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) or similar is controlled by varying the applied voltage through a potentiometer in a laboratory setting or through a solid-state power supply in a commercial setting. The “excess” voltage that was not utilized in hydrogen production has not been used to power other electrical loads such as electrical grid, commercial and residential facilities and waste-water treatment plants.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical electrical circuit connection between MFC-MEC systems to control hydrogen production.
FIG. 2 illustrates an electrical circuit connection of MFC-MEC coupled system using electronic switches and controller to control hydrogen production and supply power to an external load simultaneously.
FIG. 3 is an electrical circuit diagram using a switched capacitor implementation of Power Management Unit.
FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of the PMU using PWM controller and electronic switches.
FIG. 5 details the working of switched capacitor based PMU over time.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram setup for an electrical circuit simulation in TINA™.
FIG. 7 is the equation that governs the voltage applied to the MEC.
FIG. 8 is the equation that governs the output voltage of PMU that is available to power an electrical system.
FIG. 9 is a timing diagram that corresponds to more power being made available to an external electrical system while less power made available for hydrogen production in MEC.
FIG. 10 is a timing diagram that corresponds to more power made available for increased hydrogen production while less power made available to the electrical system.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the MFC-MEC fuel cell system with built-in PMU shown as a basic building block.
FIG. 12 shows an array of the MFC-MEC fuel cell system configuration to use in a typical waste-water treatment plant.
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, the equivalent circuit of MFC is represented by 10, and that of MEC by 11. The potentiometer 12 is used to control the voltage and hence power applied to the MEC in a typical laboratory setting to control the hydrogen production. The drawback of this scheme is that the power is dissipated as heat in 12 reducing the efficiency of the system.
FIG. 2 shows the block diagram of the PMU design using electronic switch circuits 13 and 14 to obtain high efficiencies. The switch circuits 13 and 14 are controlled by 15, a PWM controller with a feedback from output in order to maintain the set output voltage. The switch circuits can be implemented using a switching regulator. This switching regulator can be of either capacitor or inductor based switching circuits.
FIG. 3 shows a typical implementation of PMU using switched-capacitor based circuit topology. This is a desired topology due to low currents and voltages of the MFC-MEC coupled system. Switches S1-S5 can be a MOSFETs (or ultra-low voltage semiconducting switching device) with low channel resistance to minimize power loss. PWM controller can be implemented using an off-the-shelf IC.
FIG. 4 shows the timing diagram of the PWM controller. By adjusting the width of the timing pulse to S1 with respect to the overall timing period T, the desired voltage is supplied to the cathode chamber of MFC. The width of the timing pulses, T2 and T3 determine the output voltage of the regulator for external use. T1, T2 and T3 are all required to be non-overlapping timing pulses.
FIG. 5 details the working of the switched capacitor voltage regulator over a complete cycle of operation. The typical frequency of operation of the PWM controller is of the order of 100 KHz.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the switched-capacitor based voltage regulator in a circuit simulator called TINA™. VG1-VG3 represent the PWM controller operating at about 100 KHz repetition rate. S1-S5 represent ideal switches with some resistance to reflect the channel resistance of MOSFETs. It is also set to have a low switching threshold voltage (˜0.5V). The MFC and MEC is represented by a battery element with a reasonable internal resistance (5 ohms) typical of a large volume cell. Capacitors C1 and C2 are a typical low leakage capacitors such as tantalum. Rload mimics the typical load expected of a single MFC-MEC coupled system.
FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are the equations governing the voltage applied to the MEC and external load respectively based on timing periods, external load resistance, switch resistance and capacitor values.
FIG. 9 shows the timing waveform of the simulation setup corresponding to minimum hydrogen production or more power to external load. The voltage delivered to the external load is about 1.3 volts. The amount of voltage applied to cathode chamber of MEC is about 0.2 volts.
FIG. 10 shows the timing waveform of the simulation setup corresponding to the maximum hydrogen production or less power to the external load. The voltage delivered to the external load is about 0.2 volts. The amount of voltage applied to cathode chamber is about 1.0 volt.
FIG. 11 shows the basic building block of the MFC-MEC coupled system with a built-in PMU. The physical size of the building block is predominantly determined by the energy densities required at a waste-water treatment facility.
FIG. 12 shows the inter-connection of the basic building block to form a larger electrical system. The building blocks are connected in series to increase the terminal voltage of the combined system while in parallel to increase the current production. Several of the systems are connected in parallel once a give terminal voltage has been setup in a DC combiner box before feeding into an Inverter. The inverter is then connected to either an electrical grid or used locally to power the plant or residential or commercial facility.

Claims (5)

What is claimed is:
1. A power management unit, comprising:
a first electrical coupling from the power management unit to a Microbial Fuel Cells to Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MFC-MEC) system;
a second electrical coupling from the power management unit to an external electrical load;
an electrical circuit configuration having a first electronic switch to control power applied from the MFC-MEC system to a Microbial Electrolysis cells (MEC) system electrically interfaced to the MFC-MEC system via the first electronic switch through the power management unit, the MEC system to produce hydrogen gas from waste-water when the first electronic switch permits the power to be applied from the MFC-MEC system to the MEC system;
the electrical circuit configuration having a second electronic switch to vary power provided to the external electrical load; and
a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controller to control operation and timing of the first and the second electronic switches, wherein the first electronic switch to control power applied from the MFC-MEC system to the MEC system comprises the PWM controller to adjust width of timing pulses of the first electronic switch in accordance with an overall timing period (T) to yield a voltage supplied to a cathode chamber of the MEC system at a timing period 1 (T1), wherein the width of the timing pulses at a timing period 2 (T2) and at a timing period 3 (T3) determine an output voltage to the external electrical load through the second electronic switch, wherein the timing periods T1, T2 and T3 are non-overlapping timing pulses;
wherein the electrical circuit configuration simultaneously controls power applied from the MFC-MEC system to the Microbial Electrolysis cells (MEC) system and varies the power provided to the external electrical load via the first and second electronic switches.
2. The power management unit of claim 1, wherein the first and second electronic switches each exceed 90% efficiency via either or both of semi-conducting materials and organic semi-conducting materials.
3. The power management unit of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit configuration comprises at least switched-capacitors, an inductor-less or inductor based voltage regulator circuit, and the Pulse width modulation (PWM) controller to control operation and timing of the first and second electronic switches.
4. The power management unit of claim 1:
wherein the power management unit (PMU) is embodied within the MFC-MEC system; and
wherein the MFC-MEC system having the PMU embodied therein is part of an electrical system being electrically coupled in series or in parallel, or both, with other MFC-MEC systems having PMUs embodied therein to form a power plant.
5. The power management unit of claim 1, further comprising:
electrical couplings with one or more electrical inverters through which to transmit AC power from the MFC-MEC system onto any of (i) an electrical grid or (ii) a local commercial power facility or (iii) a residential power facility or (iv) a waste-water treatment plant.
US13/847,004 2012-03-20 2013-03-19 Power management system for a microbial fuel cell and microbial electrolysis cell coupled system Active 2035-03-06 US9509030B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/847,004 US9509030B2 (en) 2012-03-20 2013-03-19 Power management system for a microbial fuel cell and microbial electrolysis cell coupled system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201261612981P 2012-03-20 2012-03-20
US13/847,004 US9509030B2 (en) 2012-03-20 2013-03-19 Power management system for a microbial fuel cell and microbial electrolysis cell coupled system

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20140285007A1 US20140285007A1 (en) 2014-09-25
US9509030B2 true US9509030B2 (en) 2016-11-29
US20160372931A9 US20160372931A9 (en) 2016-12-22

Family

ID=51568654

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/847,004 Active 2035-03-06 US9509030B2 (en) 2012-03-20 2013-03-19 Power management system for a microbial fuel cell and microbial electrolysis cell coupled system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US9509030B2 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104926023B (en) * 2015-03-09 2017-01-04 浙江大学 Rural domestic sewage treatment system in conjunction with microbiological fuel cell Yu anaerobic manpower wetland
CN104828938B (en) * 2015-04-28 2017-03-08 华南理工大学 The device of hydrogen phosphide is produced in a kind of phosphor-containing organic wastewater multistage dephosphorization
CN106745772B (en) * 2016-12-29 2020-06-30 东南大学 Row-array type microbial fuel cell constructed wetland sewage treatment system
KR102095999B1 (en) * 2017-11-10 2020-04-01 대한민국(농촌진흥청장) Microbial Fuel Cell system for power management
CN109319942A (en) * 2018-09-20 2019-02-12 江苏理工学院 Construction method of a bioelectrochemical treatment system and application of treating copper and nickel in electroplating wastewater
JP7168541B2 (en) * 2019-10-16 2022-11-09 株式会社豊田中央研究所 water electrolysis system

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130076145A1 (en) * 2011-09-23 2013-03-28 The Penn State Research Foundation Capacitor circuit for arrays of power sources such as microbial fuel cells

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130076145A1 (en) * 2011-09-23 2013-03-28 The Penn State Research Foundation Capacitor circuit for arrays of power sources such as microbial fuel cells

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20160372931A9 (en) 2016-12-22
US20140285007A1 (en) 2014-09-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9509030B2 (en) Power management system for a microbial fuel cell and microbial electrolysis cell coupled system
Alajmi et al. A multiport DC–DC converter based on two-quadrant inverter topology for PV systems
Valderrama-Blavi et al. Power adaptor device for domestic DC microgrids based on commercial MPPT inverters
Du et al. Battery-integrated boost converter utilizing distributed MPPT configuration for photovoltaic systems
Garrigós et al. Combined maximum power point tracking and output current control for a photovoltaic-electrolyser DC/DC converter
Khaled et al. Optimal energy harvesting from serially connected microbial fuel cells
CN104779790A (en) Switched inductance quasi-Z source DC-DC converter circuit
Zeng et al. An isolated multiport DC-DC converter for simultaneous power management of multiple renewable energy sources
CN204442176U (en) A kind of switched inductors type accurate Z source DC-DC converter circuit
CN103401419A (en) Bi-directional double-input BUCK/BUCKBOOST DC converter and its power distribution method
KR101278533B1 (en) Module intergrated power regulator system
Roy et al. Cost effective design & control of DC-DC converter for solar PV system with MPPT
Venkatanarayanan et al. Mppt for pv using coupled inductor sepic converter for standalone power system
CN115627486B (en) Off-grid hydrogen production system and method
Vazquez et al. A three port converter for renewable energy applications
Garrigós et al. Direct coupling photovoltaic power regulator for stand-alone power systems with hydrogen generation
CN112787516B (en) Four-port converter based on center-tapped transformer and control method
Jose et al. Two-input bidirectional converter controlled hybrid energy storage system (HESS) for micro grids
Liu et al. A dual-input high step-up photovoltaic power optimizer with integrated energy storage
Boujelben et al. Analysis of a quadratic boost converter using sliding mode controller
Abdolmaleki et al. A novel high-gain dc-dc topology based on coupled inductors and decreased voltage stresses on output elements
Flach et al. Development of a Hybrid Microgrid for Power Generation Through the Interconnection of Sources with a Push-Pull Converter
Amutha et al. A novel parallel power conversion technique for efficiency improvement in hybrid DC/DC converter based rural telephony
Squella et al. Control strategy for even power distribution in parallel converters for off-grid green hydrogen
Won et al. A study on pv ac-module with active power decoupling and energy storage system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, MICRO ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M3551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: MICROENTITY

Year of fee payment: 4

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: MICROENTITY

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: SURCHARGE FOR LATE PAYMENT, MICRO ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M3555); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: MICROENTITY

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, MICRO ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M3552); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: MICROENTITY

Year of fee payment: 8